Cutter for plastic substances



Sept. 21, 1937.

P. FITZGERALD CUTTER FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANCES Filed Oct. 24 1955 Patented Sept. 21, 1937 PATENT mm:

CUTTER FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANCES Patrick Fitzgerald, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Albert Pick 00., Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 24, 1935, Serial No. 46,471

2 Claims.

My invention relates to cutters or slicers and particularly to a device adapted for the cutting of uniform slices of cheese, butter or similar products.

I am aware that cutters utilizing a thin wire have been suggested for the described purpose. However, the device of my invention represents an improvement on any such prior device, the improvements being directed to several features that are important in the operation of the device.

One of the particular improvements is in the form and character of the mounting for the cutting wire. The wire, which will preferably be of the piano wire type, is attached at one end of the rigid yoke in the conventional manner, but at the other end is held in a screw threaded tension element, so arranged that by the use of a screw driver the tension on the wire may be adjusted. This insures the necessary degree of tautness that is required for smooth cutting. The simple construction of the wire-holding elements enables simple and speedy replacement of a wire that may become broken.

Another feature of improvement relates to the means employed for varying the width of the cut by the tool. As a gauge element I provide a roller of a length corresponding to the space between the yoke, the bearing ends of the roller being mounted in reciprocable guides. Screws, one at each end, are provided for holding and adjusting the guides and consequently the roller. Thus the roller may be adjusted to provide for a thin or thick cut. This is a decided improvement over any construction in which the wire is adjustable to vary the thickness of the cut.

The invention will be. more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my device shown in cutting relation to a block of cheese indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional views on the lines 6-6 and 1-'| of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8--8 of Fig. 3.

In the drawing I have illustrated the device as comprising a cross piece l0, having arms ll, I2 forming a yoke and a handle l3, the parts being preferably in the form of a rigid casting of light weight material. The inside faces of the arms I I, I2 are grooved as indicated at l4 in Figs. 5 and '7, to provide guideways, and mounted within such ways are guide pieces 15 that provide bearings for the trunnions I6 of the roller l1. Mounted with- 5 in the cross piece IU of the yoke at both ends are screws l8 that engage the guide pieces l5, each of the screws being anchored against longitudinal movement by the enlargement l9 and the knurled head or nut 20. A spring washer 2! is 10 interposed between the head and the frame to provide a controlled frictional resistance to turning.

It will be. seen that by rotation of the nuts 20 the roller may be advanced or retracted as desired.

The cutting wire 22 extends transversely across the opening in the yoke, its ends being seated in grooves formed in end portions on the arms ll, l2, said ends being shaped to project slightly beyond the plane of the sides of the frame, as indicated at 23 in Figs. 6 and 7. At one end the wire is anchored by means of a conventional screw 24 and at the other end, as best shown in Fig. 8, the wire enters a screw threaded plunger 25 mounted 25 for vertical reciprocation in a projection 26 from the arm l2. The screw threaded end of the part 25 is engaged in the screw threaded recess in a part 21, the head 28 of which has a slot for engagement by a screw driver. It will be seen that 30 by rotating the part 21 the plunger 25 is moved inwardly or outwardly to exert tension on the cutting wire or to release the same as desired. The opening within which the plunger 25 is received is grooved at the point where the end of the cutting wire enters the opening, the groove being of a size to accommodate the wire. This serves as a key to prevent rotation of the plunger 25 when the element 21 is rotated.

The operation of the device will be understood from the preceding description, together with the method by which the wire may be made taut or replaced in case of breakage. In the use of the device the cutter is placed against the end of a block of cheese or similar material and a downward pressure will, by the assistance of the roller which acts as a gauge, serve to cut a uniform slice from the end of the material.

I claim:

1. In a cheese cutter, the combination of a frame providing a yoke, the inner faces of the arms of the yokes being provided with longitudinal grooves, blocks slidably mounted in the grooves, screws mounted with their axes parallel 5 to said grooves and engaging said blocks, a roller having its ends journalled in said blocks, and a cutting wire extending between said arms parallel to the roller.

2. In a cheese cutter, the combination of a frame providing a yoke, the inner faces of the arms of the yokes being provided with longitudinal grooves, blocks slidably mounted in the grooves, screws mounted with their axes parallel to each groove and engaging said blocks, a roller having its ends journalled in said blocks, a cutting wire extending between the arms parallel to the face of the roller, means for fastening the wire permanently to one arm, and a screw on the outside of the other arm adapted to engage the end of the wire to exert tension thereon.

' PATRICK FITZGERALD. 

